Beer #70 - Bath Ales / Gem

BREWERY // Bath Ales started 21 years ago with the brewing of a batch of their flagship beer- Gem. This month saw the brewery celebrate their 5000th brew. The brewery was founded by a couple of brewers and a pub landlord in the town of Wincanton taking its name from the nearby Roman city of Bath. The distinctive hare logo was inspired by the Westbury White Horse. Bath Ales has grown steadily over the years and their beers are now widely available. While being resolutely a traditional real ale brewery, the owners recently started Beerd Brewery which makes experimental and innovative in the modern 'craft beer' mould.

TASTING NOTES // Gem is an excellent example of an English Best Bitter. This style of beer does not belong in a world of theoretical IBUs, strange culinary brew additions,freeze distilling and the Randall (a hop-infusing beer tap). A beer like gem is at home in a Somerset country pub alongside a Ploughman's lunch while people discuss staghounds and cricket at the bar. One can easily imagine the likes of George Orwell or Isambard Kingdom Brunel enjoying a pint while thinking about totalitarianism or steamships. It is a beer to slake thirsts and best accompanied with robust conversation. Gem is made with pale Maris Otter barley and Kent Goldings hops with the former being key in the biscuit-like, nutty, caramel flavour. There is a touch of citrus aroma and flavour from the hops with a light bitterness.